(MONCTON) August 16, 2012 - The Moncton Hospital (TMH) will
continue to focus on providing high-quality critical care but in a
vastly-improved environment thanks to a $3 million dollar
contribution from the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation.
The Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) has officially
opened on the main floor of the hospital in an area formerly
occupied by the Emergency Department.

Nancy Parker, the Executive Director at TMH says the MSICU will
provide our critical care team with a state-of-the-art facility to
treat our most ill patients. "All the staff and physicians who've
worked in the current dated MSICU are very excited to
have this new, spacious and bright unit now available to
them. With private rooms for all of our patients, this
updated work space will facilitate improved patient care
and infection control practices. We know
our MSICU staff do an excellent job; this modern
unit will allow them to go that extra mile
for our patients in a wonderful new environment," says
Parker.

In addition to its close proximity to the new
Emergency/Trauma Centre, this modern ICU is located adjacent to the
Operating Rooms and a very short distance from the Medical Imaging
Department and various clinics. This will alleviate the transport
of critically ill patients who may require emergency surgery or
special tests. (The old MSICU has been located on the
5th floor of the Hospital.) The new unit features ten
glass-fronted patient rooms with a centralized desk that allows for
staff to attend to emergencies immediately. Equipment will be
stored just steps away from the patients and worried family members
will have more space to sit by their loved ones, as well as a
comfortable family room which will allow relatives and friends to
be close to their critically ill family member at all times.

Friends' Chair David Holt says strong critical care services in
our region are vital, especially given the growth and development
that we have seen in recent years."The Friends contribution to the
enhancement of the ICU recognizes the important role our hospital
plays in delivering quality acute care to families in our region,"
says Holt.

In 2005, the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation, the
Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Bennett and Albert
County Health Care Foundation together launched theHealthy Returns
- La santé notre richesse capital fundraising campaign. While the
goal included projects for the two rural facilities, over $7
million of the total $7.5 million raised was earmarked to purchase
much needed equipment for the new Emergency/Trauma Centre at The
Moncton Hospital, clinics in the Irving Ambulatory Care Centre and
new laboratory, and for the relocation and redevelopment of the
Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU).

The Healthy Returns - La santé notre richesseCampaign was
chaired by Robert Irving. During the campaign, the Friends
Foundation received two $1 million gifts, the first from the Irving
Group and the second from Jon and Leslie Manship. The Ambulatory
Care Centre was named to honour the Irving contribution and during
the official opening on August 16, the ICU was dedicated in honour
of Leslie Manship's mother, Sharon E. Harrison, a former nurse at
The Moncton Hospital.

"On behalf of Horizon Health
Network, I thank our Foundations, The Irving Group and Jon
and Leslie Manship for
their generous contributions," says Donald J. Peters,
President and CEO of Horizon Health Network. "An efficient and
innovative health care system is an important priority for our
organization, and this new intensive care unit reflects a
unified commitment to quality patient care."